Album Notes

Mike Martin
Independent Guitarist and Composer
Lead Guitarist for:
FOZZY
The Duke
Stuck Mojo
www.mikemartin.net

Biography

Mike Martin began his life on stage. Literally. Mike’s mother was pregnant while she was in college studying and performing opera. He never had a chance! He began his formal study of music at the age of four, learning violin and singing in choir throughout elementary school. At nine years old he started playing the piano. In 1985 he discovered the guitar and was given one that year as a Christmas present. Teaching himself to play by ear, Mike quickly developed a repertoire of popular rock music learning every AC/DC riff he could.
In junior high, Mike began seeking out teachers who could help further him along as a player. After a short stint with music store lessons, Mike was accepted to study at The Concord Community Music School in Concord New Hampshire, studying Classical Guitar with Christopher Kane and Jazz Guitar with David Tonkin.
Mike earned his first professional job as a guitarist playing 12-string guitar for the New Life Singers, a contemporary Christian folk ensemble based out of Concord. At fifteen, Mike created a new rock band and began performing all over New Hampshire with musicians who were already out of high school.
Eager to learn as much as possible about the guitar, Mike took an opportunity to move to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in 1990 to begin studying with Tom Yoder, a local guitar wizard that Mike credits for bringing out the discipline and skills he would need for a lifetime of music achievement. During this time, Mike continued performing in the Myrtle Beach area with local bands. Mike stayed under Tom’s tutelage until graduating from high school in 1992.
Mike moved to Atlanta in 1992 with the group Tunnel Vision in hopes of getting his performing career off the ground. The new Alternative and Grunge movements made it difficult for Mike to secure many opportunities, but he did make some acquaintances along the way. Mike did a short stint at a Georgia landscaping company where he met Rich Ward of Stuck Mojo and Sean Delson and Doug Busbee of Salem Ash. Little did he realize the significance of this brief encounter.
Discouraged, Mike did the only thing he could think of: Go To College! Here he studied Music Theory and Composition with Dr. David Maves, ASCAP Composer of the Year 1995. He also continued his Classical guitar studies with Mark Regnier and Jazz studies with Tommy Gill.
After graduating in 1999, Mike moved back to Atlanta to pick up where he had left off and soon found work in the thriving Atlanta Blues Scene as a mercenary sideman for hire. Mike also had great success performing with his Nuevo Gypsy / Flamenco duo with Ed Wier. Mike began showcasing his writing with the group The Hybrids in 2000, which ultimately lead to Mike starting a group under his own name in 2002.
Mike was approached by Sean Delson in the summer of 2004 on behalf of Rich Ward and FOZZY to take over lead guitar responsibilities, as they were beginning a world tour to support their latest record “All That Remains.” Since then Mike has recorded his first CD, “2 of 5,” to be released in June 17th 2006, touring with FOZZY and recorded The Duke’s new release on Spitfire Records “My Kung Fu Is Good.” (Released worldwide May 2005)
Mike’s foundations in Classical, Metal, Jazz, Folk, Rock and World music have made him dedicate his career to versatility and culture with the highest respect for art by any means necessary. Perhaps he is best described in the following way:
Art with a purpose is a force to be reckoned with.


Notable Highlights:

BA; Music Theory and Composition
College of Charleston, SC 1999
Studied with: Dr. David Maves, PHD (1995 ASCAP Composer of the Year)

Classical Guitar Studies with Mark Regnier, MA
Original Chamber Music performed by members of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (1999).
Performed Vivaldi Concerto for two guitars with Kris Woodrum and the Charleston Community Orchestra (1998).

Has Performed with:
FOZZY (Ash Records)
The Duke (Spitfire Records)
Stuck Mojo (Independent)
Jerry Donahue (The Hellecasters)
Man On Fire (ProgRock Records)
JANAH (Rattlesby Records)
David Manion (Steve Walsh, Seventh Key, Independent)
Jimmy Dourmire (Confederate Railroad)
Bill Stewart (The Greg Allman Band)
John Schwenke, Jon McKnight, Tom Grey
and Mark Johnson (Delta Moon)
Quentin Baxter (Monte Alexander, Rene Marie,
Takana Myamoto, Independent)
Barry Richman (Independent)
Oliver Wood (The Wood Brothers, King Johnson)
Eric Sands (Lion Music)
Tommy Dodd (Independent)

Has opened for:
Motorhead
The Radiators (Tour)
Chris Botti (Earthlink Live, Atlanta 2002)
Tim Reynolds (Tour)
Joe Bonemassa (Earth Day Festival 2002)
Rusted Root (WXRT Rockin’ de Mayo Fest. 2002)

Festivals and Shows:
FOZZY “Touring the World and Elsewhere” 2005-2006
Atlantis Music Conference (2005)
SXSW (2002)
WXRT Rockin’ De Mayo Festival (2002)
Atlanta Blues Festival (2000)
Earth Day Festival, Nashville TN (2002)
Magnolia Festival (2001)
Jemfest USA (2003,2005,2006)
Download Festival (Donnington, UK) (2005)

Discography
Mike Martin – “2 of 5”
Serpa Records 2006
Stuck Mojo - "Southern Born Killers"
Independent 2007
Zero Chance – “Better Days for Broken Hearts”
Independent 2006
The Duke – “My Kung Fu Is Good”
Spitfire Records 2005
Ed Wier – “Tribe”
Independent 2000

Radio & TV:
WWE RAW w/ Fozzy on Spike TV (performance)
WWE Extreme w/ Fozzy on Spike TV (the Making of “Enemy” music video)
Rage TV (Australia)
Channel 4 (UK)
Peachtree Morning (Atlanta) (performance)
WRFG, WREK (Atlanta) (performance)
WXRT (Chicago) (performance)

Video
Stuck Mojo
"I'm American" 2007 Music Video
Director: Simon Evans

FOZZY
“Enemy” 2004 Music Video
Director: Paul Hough
Rotation: MTV2, Fuse Network